flash based carts would be much faster, but the size vs cost is the issue, i dont know if that will change in time for the next gen.... and by the gen after that downloads should be the only distribution method 

i would think they would use either hd-dvd drive, blu-ray drive or another format. i dont really care which one as long as their is plenty of storage for the games for the entire next gen of games. also i will stay in gaming which i love to death, as long as a system uses a phyiscal disk for the games. why, because i like seeing my game cases and also if u get a game on a disk u can trade it in, where as a downloadable game if it sucks u cant trade it in because its on your hdd.

Funny enough, the industry is not a big fan of "trading games" either on eBay or GameStop or CraigsList or what not.

So streaming/downloadable games that are not tradeable or re-sellable is an attractive option for software developers.  Plus, the distribution costs of such a move are virtually nil, so it's very cheap.  Plus it would open up the door to a lot more garage developers who normally couldn't afford to market/distribute a great gaming idea.

BTW: Great username, I love Robotech, been a fan since it came out when I was in in the first grade.

@Comrade That is exactly it. Although GameStop will wage WWIII to extend its life. BTW, how much will the games cost? Will they be $60 per game or increase? I would want them to stay the same or become cheaper as increased costs would only hinder sales.

game coasts are still not at historical highs..... carts for the n64 routinely sold for 69.99 so one more jump... and considering inflation since then, games are still cheap 

I imagine in would be like the PSN method... games are generally about 10-20 bucks cheaper if you download them.

As for GameStop, I'm so tired of them, I'd love to see them go under.  They used to be so awesome when they had competition from EB Games, but ever since they bought them out and erased the competition, they are just ridiculous now.

Last time I went in to buy Left 4 Dead (because I called them and they said they had a used copy) once I arrived, they told me "Yeah we got a used copy, but Ethan (a store manager) is taking it home to play it".

So rather than make a sale, they chose to take the game home and play it. 

Not to mention they offer ridiculous prices on used games.  I bought MGS4 new on the day of release, took it back the next day because I didn't care for it, and they offered me $12.00 for the game... and they were gonna resell it for $54.95, and since it would have been the only used copy in the store, would have sold in like 5-minutes.  That's just ridiculous.  They deserve to get run out of business for insulting their customers' intelligence like that.

I'm pretty sure it will not be are HD-DVD only drive.
The options I see possible is:
1) BlueRay
2) Combo HD-DVD/BlueRay
3) Other new format with faster read-speed and less noice.
4) Flash-cards and download.

I know how you feel.  I used to work for my overlord masters at GS until they decided they didn't need me anymore.  They didn't tell me I was seasonal and didn't give me the decency of telling me the "news" to my face.  I was pissed.  After all I am a Game Art and Design BFA major and their CEO has the same last name as me.  Rub that in ur face cheapskates--my uncle 3 times removed will fire you  lol ;)

LOL, yeah they are sorry now.  I used to go to EB Games because of that, and then the employees gave me the"great news" that EB Games was about to disappear.  I knew that meant trouble for all gamers.

So, now I am an eBay only guy.  That's sad for EB Games, because I own all 3 systems (all of which I bought at GameStop) I also bought a GameCube from them, an original XBOX,  2 PS2s, 2 GB Advances, 1 DS, and around 120+ games.  And they thank me by treating me bad.  Oh well, sucky customer service is always the first bump in the road to corporate failure... just ask Circuit City, they've only got a few months left until they sink.

If blu-ray becomes truly mainstream, they'll go with that format. The XBOX is MS attempt to become the media center of your home.